Resolution on Malta
Date: 1998-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: Malta, accession to the European Union













EUR-Lex - 51998IP0952 - EN






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51998IP0952

Resolution on Malta  


Official Journal C 328 , 26/10/1998 P. 0181 





B4-0952, 0953, 0954, 0955, 0956, 0957 and 0958/98Resolution on MaltaThe European Parliament,A. having regard to Malta¨s request to accede to the EU of 16 July 1990 and to the conclusion of the Corfu European Council in June 1994 that accession negotiations should be opened with Malta and Cyprus, and the conclusion of the Council of the European Union of 10 April 1995 that these negotiations should start six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference which was to lead to the Treaty of Amsterdam,B. having regard to its previous resolutions on this subject, in particular that of 12 July 1995 on Malta¨s application for membership of the EU (( OJ C 249, 25.9.1995, p. 76.)), in favour of opening accession negotiations with Malta,C. whereas Malta forms an integral part of the European national and cultural community and is willing to participate henceforth in the future as an active member of the European Union,D. whereas Malta, after freezing its application for membership for two years, has stated its renewed willingness to become a member of the EU,E. pointing out the importance of the island's geo-strategic location between the European and African continents,F. noting with satisfaction that expansion of the European Union to include Malta will strengthen the Mediterranean dimension of the European Union,G. pointing out the constructive role of Malta in the Barcelona process,H. having regard to the statements made by the government and the opposition of Malta that the citizens should decide in a referendum upon Maltese membership of the European Union,I. pointing out nevertheless that the Commission opinion on Malta's 1990 request for accession identified certain problems requiring a prior solution (especially in the economic and fiscal fields) and that, following the freezing of Malta's request from 1996, some of these problems may still require further action,The European Parliament,1. Notes with satisfaction that Malta has renewed its earlier request, and asks the Council and the Commission to support its accession as soon as possible in full respect of the provisions and procedures of the Treaty;2. Ask the Council to include Malta as soon as possible as a member of the European Conference;3. Emphasises that its position on this renewed request must be adopted on the basis of the Commission's updated opinion;4. Asks the Commission to continue with the screening process of Malta and to update without delay its opinion on Malta¨s accession request to take account of developments since 1996;5. Requests that Malta be given pre-accession aid on the same basis as other applicants;6. Asks the government of Malta to inform its citizens continuously and extensively about every step taken in the process of accession;7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and Malta.